IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL EVALUATION AND PHYSICAL REPORT (IJMEPR )

E-ISSN 2579-0498
P-ISSN 2695-2181
VOL. 8 NO. 6 2024
DOI: 10.56201/ijmepr.v8.no6.2024.pg161.173

---

Physical Workplace Violence Experiences and Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Workers in Public Hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria

E. I. Achalu, & C. M. P. Igonikon

---

Abstract

This study investigated physical workplace violence experiences and socio-demographic characteristics of workers in public hospitals in Rivers State. The research design adopted was a descriptive research design. The population for the study consisted of 3,000 health care workers in public hospitals in Rivers State. The sample size for the study was 495 which was selected using the multi-stage sampling procedure. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.74. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, percentage, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result of the study revealed that, physical (2.05±1.00) workplace violence was experienced to a high extent. The physical violence experienced were kicking (2.17±1.04), pinching (2.16±0.99), injury (2.14±1.11), forcefully pushed (2.12±1.02), and beating (2.11±1.04) while the psychological violence experienced included: intimidation (2.44±0.84), verbal warning (2.39±0.95), humiliation (2.33±0.95), abusive words (2.25±1.04), discrimination (2.24±0.94), and threatened harm (2.05±0.98). Also, there was a significant difference in the experiences of physical violence based on department at work (p<0.05). Thus, it was recommended that, the government should provide adequate security by assigning security personnel to the public hospitals as, this may deter the perpetrators from orchestrating any violence act against the health care workers.

keywords:

Demographic, Experiences, Physical, Violence, Workers

---

References:

Abbas, M.A., Fiala, L.A., Abdel Rahman, A.G., & Fahim, A.E. (2010). Epidemiology of
workplace violence against nursing staff in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. Journal of Egypt
Public Health Association, 85(1–2), 29–43.
Alameddine, M., Zablit, C., & Dimassi, M. (2012). A national study on violence against nurses in
Lebanon: Prevalence, consequences and associated factors. Kavanah.
Arinze-Onyia, S.U., Agwu-Umahi, O.R., Chinawa, A.T., Ndu, A.C., Okwor, T.J., Chukukasi,
K.W., Ogugua, I.J., Aguwa, E.N., & Theodore, A.O. (2020). Prevalence and patterns of
psychological and physical violence among nurses in a public tertiary health facility in
Enugu, southeast Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research,
7, 15-22.
Constance, J., Newman, C.J. H., de Vries, D., Kanakuze, J., & Ngendahimana, G. (2011).
Workplace violence and gender discrimination in Rwanda's health workforce: increasing
safety and gender equality. Human Resources Health, 9, 19-23.
El-Gilany, A., Elkhawaga, G., & Abd-El-Raouf, S. (2012). Violence against physicians in
Mansoura University Emergency Hospital, Egypt. Kavanah.
Fallahi-Khoshknab, M., Oskouie, F., Najafi, F., Ghazanfari, N., Tamizi, Z. & Afshani, S. (2016).
Physical violence against health care workers: A nationwide study from Iran. Iran Journal
of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 21(3), 232-238.
Günaydin, N., & Kutlu, Y. (2012). Experience of workplace violence among nurses in health-care
settings. Journal of Psychiatric Nursing, 3(1), 1-5.
Hahn, S. (2012). Patient and visitor violence in the general hospital, occurrence, staff interventions
and consequences: a cross-sectional survey. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(12), 2685–
Lin, W.Q. (2015). Workplace violence and job performance among community healthcare
Workers in China: the mediator role of quality of life. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(11), 14872–14886.
Michell, K. (2010). National Education Representative.South African Society of Occupational
Health nurses. African Newsletter on occupational health and safety, 20, 1-10.
Mishra, S., Chopra, D., Jauhari, N., Ahmad, A., & Kidwai, N.A. (2018). Violence against health
care workers: a provider’s (staff nurse) perspective. International Journal of Community
Medicine and Public Health, http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20183609.
Niu, S. (2010). Senior Occupational Health Specialist. Switzerland: International Labour Office.
Ogbonnaya, G.U., Aguwa, E., Ukegbu, A.U., & Emma-Ukaegbu, U. (2013). A study on workplace
violence against health workers in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Nigerian Journal of
Medicine, 21(2), 174-179.
Ogundipe, K.O., Etonyeaku, A.C., Adigun, I., Ojo, E.O., Aladesanmi, T., & Taiwo, J.O. (2013).
Violence in the emergency department: A multicentre survey of nurses' perceptions in
Nigeria. Emergency Medicine Journal, 30, 758-762.
Pai, D.D., Sturbelle, I.C., Dos-Santos, C., Tavares, J.P., and Lautert, L. (2018). Physical and
psychological violence in the workplace of healthcare professionals. Texto Contexto
Enferm, 27(1): 1-10. e2420016
Ray, M.M. (2007). The dark side of the job: Violence in the emergency department. Journal of
Emergency Nursing, 33, 257–261.
Schat, A.C.H., & Kelloway, E.K. (2003). Reducing the adverse consequences of workplace
aggression and violence: The buffering effects of organizational support. Journal of
Occupational
Health
and
Psychology,
8,
110–122.
http/doi.org/10.1037/1076-
8998.8.2.110.
Semahegn, A., & Mengistie, B. (2015). Domestic violence against women and associated factors
in Ethiopia; systematic review. Reproductive Health, 12, 1–12.
Spector, P.E., Zhou, Z.E., & Che, X.X. (2014). Nurse exposure to physical and nonphysical
violence, bullying, and sexual harassment: A quantitative review. International Journal of
Nursing Studies, 51, 72-84.
Tian, Y., Yue, Y., Wang, J., Luo, T., Li, Y. & Zhou, J. (2020). Workplace violence against hospital
healthcare workers in China: a national WeChat-based survey. BioMedical Central Public
Health, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08708-3
Tirthanka, G. (2013). Occupational health and hazards among health care workers. International
Journal of occupational safety and health, 3(1), 1-4.
Wiskow,
C.
(2019).
Guidelines
on
workplace
violence
in
the
health
sector. https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/interpersonal/en/WV_C
omparisonGuidelines.pdf
World Health Organisation (2017). Health Workforce Requirement for Universal Coverage and
Sustainable Development.
Yang, L.Q., Spector, P.E., Chang, C.H., Gallant-Roman, M., & Powell, J. (2012). Psychosocial
precursors and physical consequences of workplace violence towards nurses: A longitudinal
examination with naturally occurring groups in hospital settings. International Journal of
Nursing Studies, 49(9), 1091–1102.
Yenealem, D.G., Woldegebriel, M.K., Olana, A.T., & Mekonnen, T.H. (2019). Violence at work:
determinants & prevalence among health care workers, northwest Ethiopia: an institutional
based
cross
sectional
study. Annals
of
Occupational
and
Environmental
Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-019-0288-6.

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back